Phillips edges Spinks to take IBF light middleweight crown

Posted: Fri Mar 28 1:29 AM

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Verno Phillips unseated Cory Spinks, taking the IBF light middleweight title with a 12-round, split decision win at the Scottrade Center.

Phillips (42-10-1), won 116-112, 115-113, 113-115 on the judges' scorecards, picking up his fourth straight win. Phillips, 38, came into the fight off an unanimous decision over Eduardo Sanchez on February 16.

Spinks (36-5), the son of Leon Spinks, dropped his second straight split decision. He was nipped by Jermain Taylor in a contest for the WBC and WBO middleweight titles in May. Spinks was fighting in his hometown of St. Louis, but lost for the second time in three fights in his native city.